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mock

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adjective

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mock

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noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word mock distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of mock are ape, copy, imitate, and mimic. While all these words mean "to make something so that it resembles an existing thing," mock usually implies imitation with derision.

mocking a vain man's pompous manner

When is ape a more appropriate choice than mock?

The synonyms ape and mock are sometimes interchangeable, but ape may suggest presumptuous, slavish, or inept imitating of a superior original.

American fashion designers aped their European colleagues

When would copy be a good substitute for mock?

While the synonyms copy and mock are close in meaning, copy suggests duplicating an original as nearly as possible.

copied the painting and sold the fake as an original

Where would imitate be a reasonable alternative to mock?

Although the words imitate and mock have much in common, imitate suggests following a model or a pattern but may allow for some variation.

imitate a poet's style

When is it sensible to use mimic instead of mock?

While in some cases nearly identical to mock, mimic implies a close copying (as of voice or mannerism) often for fun, ridicule, or lifelike imitation.

pupils mimicking their teacher

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of mock
Verb
President-elect Donald Trump, who mocked Carter during the 2024 campaign, criticized him again during a news conference in Florida for ceding control of the Panama Canal. Bill Barrow, The Denver Post, 7 Jan. 2025 When the Lions hired Campbell, they were mocked nationally for trusting their team to a meathead. Nick Baumgardner, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Adjective
Most mock drafts have Jeanty going somewhere between picks 10 and 21. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 7 Jan. 2025 Participants read mock news articles based on real-world data on the gender gap in leadership in politics and business. Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
The media portrayed Taylor as a homewrecker who lured Fisher away from Debbie Reynolds, whose persona as America’s sweetheart Taylor mocks in her interview. Marisa Guthrie, WWD, 2 Aug. 2024 In the mock debates Harris is holding in Pittsburgh as rehearsal for Tuesday, the adviser playing Trump’s role is underlining the differences between the candidates by allegedly dressing as Trump, right down to the big blue suit and long tie. Vaughn Hillyard, NBC News, 8 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for mock 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mock
Verb
  • Since original cast members John Candy and Joan Rivers have died, a Spaceballs sequel would probably have to get creative with casting as well (and perhaps even parody Carrie Fisher's posthumous performance in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker).
    Christian Holub, EW.com, 4 Jan. 2025
  • The Coen brothers took their inspiration from the films of Preston Sturgess and Frank Capra, among others, but the intent was never to satirize or parody those films.
    Ars Technica, Ars Technica, 31 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • Apart from Musk’s most loyal sycophants, the build was almost universally ridiculed as the work of a complete novice.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Russia has repeatedly denied launching hybrid attacks against NATO, in many cases ridiculing the accusations, even though NATO officials say Moscow has set up a special directorate focused on carrying them out.
    Lara Jakes, New York Times, 4 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Philippine police have filed criminal complaints against Duterte and her security staff for allegedly assaulting authorities and disobeying orders in an altercation in Congress over the brief detention of her chief of staff, who was accused of hampering the congressional inquiry.
    Jim Gomez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Dec. 2024
  • Also not computing: Where the hell does Ben get off disobeying Chief Altman’s orders?
    Laura Bradley, Vulture, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Just take a look at her Coachella style, filled with faux furs and rhinestones.
    Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 10 Jan. 2025
  • The faux marble top is easy to clean but still gives your room a high-class vibe.
    Christopher Murray, Fox News, 8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Fraudsters have devised sophisticated registration bots to mimic real users, coded to flood companies’ systems with fake OTPs.
    Ethan Stone, USA TODAY, 12 Jan. 2025
  • While fake kidnapping calls aimed at exploiting worried parents are a familiar tactic for some criminals, advancements in technology are making these scams far more convincing and harder to detect.
    Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 12 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Speaking over Zoom, Vidal told me that in 2019 many people took Trump’s suggestion about buying Greenland as a joke.
    John Cassidy, The New Yorker, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Humor is a helpful tool in dealing with tension and stress, so making jokes about an incident that can help manage the feelings of cognitive dissonance and helplessness news like this can elicit.
    Callum Booth, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • The company provided me copies of the current edition for review.
    Rob Wieland, Forbes, 18 Jan. 2025
  • Those members of Congress would have to review the document under supervision from a Justice Department official and would not be able to keep a copy of the report, take notes or take photographs of its pages, government lawyers said.
    DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS, arkansasonline.com, 18 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Paul Barrett: Zuckerberg Is Appeasing Trump Zuckerberg is imitating Musk to curry favor with Trump.
    Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Jan. 2025
  • However, just months after their characters shared their first kiss in 2019's in Spider-Man: Far from Home, life imitated art for the pair.
    Erin Clack, People.com, 6 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near mock

Cite this Entry

“Mock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mock. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

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